Southern Yosemite Climbing Discussions
Southern Yosemite Categories => General Discussion => Topic started by: donutnational on September 03, 2017, 03:04:33 pm
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Saw the smoke coming down the hill. Prayers for residents and firefighters. Check sierranewsonline for details. We are running out of firefighting resources around here.
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I heard it was in the Nelder Grove area for the Railroad fire. Is there another by NOrth Fork
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Different fire. Guess there are also 2 new ones in Mariposa Area.
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Just coming out from the Balls now. Smoke picked up late this afternoon there but was otherwise allright. Drive back to 274 was thick with smoke, but on 274 air quality is much better. Saw ten or so fire trucks pass by heading for North fork. Edit -
Make that twenty.
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Surprised you made the Balls with the fire at Nelder Grove now. Figured they would have shut down access.
What did you climb?
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We climbed in Courtright Saturday, glad of our last minute choice to drive there instead of Shuteye since it wasn't too smokey and weather held minus a few drops. We hankered for Soyo so much even tho we found prime camping in Courtright, so much so that we decided to head out to Soyo whatever condition we might find it in... as we were really missing it!
When we pulled into Oakhurst, though, we saw this disheartening view.
(http://www.southernyosemiteclimbing.com/SMF/photo_album_resized/IMG_0933_resized.jpg)
Learned in shopping around town that there was another new fire this time in North Fork, that just began that afternoon. Figured the same thing, maybe we would be turned around and shouldn't go in, but we had to try. We were the only vehicle heading in via Beasore while an unusual number of others were heading out.
It was smokey on the way in, but it panned out that wind direction left the Balls in the clear. It had stormed a little and there were piles of hail here and there. Couldn't see Shuteye from the overlook as it was blanketed in smoke until this morning when all looked normal again until this afternoon.
No one sweeping the area... just road closures toward Fresno Dome.
Ran into Mike and Polly which was good fun. And again today with iffy weather we stayed close to the road at JLT, but the weather held out.
Really nice to get out there and see for ourselves what we could. Every nearby fire is unnerving as all get out since these areas are so vulnerable.
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Just heard an update with the Railroad fire at 10,000 acres @ 25% contained and the North Fork at 800 acres and 10%. Going to be burning for a while.
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Any updates to RR fire and the Mission? I do appreciate the huge effort we witnessed the other day when we were in the area and how tough a job this is! Hope no one gets hurt and that containment is established soon of course! When we drove by the other night leaving Oakhurst, you could see a huge orange glow in the hills above town. Ominous.
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Morning, the fires here are way better, the smoke is so much better as well, the firefighters are are starting to get a hand on these fires, plus things are way cooler high 80's here today :-)
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Thanks Mike that's great to hear! And it was good having a beer with you and Polly at the end of the day last weekend!
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Hah, correction, beers and days! 😊
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I was told they may have closed Beasore road but haven't got any details further. Sky ranch road to Fresno Dome is closed and evacuated
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Scarey how this fire could go so wrong for the ridge! So many acres of dead evergreens there by Beasore and 274. The beautifulest forest of white pines abuts this area higher up Beasore which I'm really worried for.... I just hope they contain this fire fast knowing they need to concentrate efforts on structures and keeping people safe in all directions.
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https://sierranewsonline.com/roadways-reopen-as-firefighters-gain-upper-hand-on-school-fire/ (https://sierranewsonline.com/roadways-reopen-as-firefighters-gain-upper-hand-on-school-fire/)
So it begins. Fire season. Also heard there was a fire in Oakhurst today.